Don't Be Cruel by Bobby Brown (Album, New Jack Swing): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list - Rate Your Music
sign in
new music genres
charts
lists
New Music Genres Charts Lists
Don't Be Cruel
By Bobby Brown
....
ArtistBobby Brown
TypeAlbum
Released20 June 1988
RYM Rating 3.36 / 5.00.5 from 651 ratings
Ranked#423 for 1988
Genres
Descriptors
energetic, love, passionate, male vocalist, rhythmic, urban, uplifting, melodic, romantic, party, playful, sensual
Language English

Track listing

  • A1 - Cruel Prelude 0:39
    • L.A. Reid
      producer, mixing, all instruments, rap
    • Babyface
      producer, mixing, all instruments, background vocals
    • Bobby Brown
      background vocals, rap
    • Jon Gass
      recording engineer, mix engineer, editing
    • John Guggenheim
      assistant recording engineer
    • Don Emerson
      assistant recording engineer
    • Toni Greene
      mixing assistant
    • Fred Howard
      mixing assistant
    • Kayo
      background vocals
    • Daryl Simmons
      background vocals, rap
    • Karyn White
      background vocals
  • - Don't Be Cruel 6:52
  • A2 My Prerogative 4:57
  • A3 Roni 5:58
    • L.A. Reid
      producer, mixing, all instruments
    • Babyface
      producer, mixing, all instruments, background vocals
    • Bobby Brown
      background vocals
    • Jon Gass
      recording engineer, mix engineer, editing
    • John Guggenheim
      assistant recording engineer
    • Don Emerson
      assistant recording engineer
    • Toni Greene
      mixing assistant
    • Fred Howard
      mixing assistant
    • Kayo
      background vocals
    • Daryl Simmons
      background vocals
    • Karyn White
      background vocals
  • A4 Rock Wit'cha 4:47
    • L.A. Reid
      producer, mixing, all instruments
    • Babyface
      producer, mixing, all instruments, background vocals
    • Bobby Brown
      background vocals
    • Jon Gass
      recording engineer, mix engineer, editing
    • John Guggenheim
      assistant recording engineer
    • Don Emerson
      assistant recording engineer
    • Toni Greene
      mixing assistant
    • Fred Howard
      mixing assistant
  • B1 Every Little Step 3:59
    • L.A. Reid
      producer, mixing, all instruments
    • Babyface
      producer, mixing, all instruments, background vocals
    • Bobby Brown
      background vocals
    • Jon Gass
      recording engineer, mix engineer, editing
    • John Guggenheim
      assistant recording engineer
    • Don Emerson
      assistant recording engineer
    • Toni Greene
      mixing assistant
    • Fred Howard
      mixing assistant
    • Kayo
      background vocals
    • Daryl Simmons
      background vocals
    • Karyn White
      background vocals
  • B2 I'll Be Good to You 4:25
  • B3 Take It Slow 5:22
    • Larry White
      producer, mixing, assistant engineer, drums, guitar, background vocals, additional overdubs, bass
    • Michael Denten
      recording engineer, mixing, drum tech
    • Howard Johnston
      recording engineer
    • K2
      assistant engineer
    • Mark Slagle
      assistant engineer
    • Kirk Crumpler
      bass, bass synthesizer
    • Emilio Conesa
      guitar
    • Percy Scott
      keyboards
    • Ben Rayes
      keyboards
    • Dewayne Sweet
      keyboards
    • Richard Aguon
      background vocals, drums
    • Ollie Bolds
      background vocals
    • Lee Peters
      background vocals
    • Ronnie Watkins
      background vocals
    • Melecio Magdaluyo
      soprano saxophone
    • Tommy Brown
      finger snaps
    • Mel Jay
      finger snaps
    • Ervilinda Nasaira Hill
      finger snaps
    • Ruben Laxamana
      special effects
  • B4 All Day All Night 4:40
    • Larry White
      producer, mixing, assistant engineer, keyboards
    • Louil Silas Jr.
      remix
    • Michael Denten
      recording engineer, mixing, background vocals
    • Howard Johnston
      recording engineer
    • K2
      assistant engineer
    • Mark Slagle
      assistant engineer
    • Percy Scott
      keyboards
    • Ben Rayes
      keyboards
    • Dewayne Sweet
      keyboards, drums, bass synthesizer
    • Richard Aguon
      background vocals, drums
    • Ollie Bolds
      background vocals
    • Lee Peters
      background vocals
    • Ervilinda Nasaira Hill
      voice
  • B5 - I Really Love You Girl 5:11
    • Gordon Jones
      producer, mixing, various instruments, background vocals
    • Bobby Brown
      producer
    • Phil Waters
      recording engineer
    • Mitch Gibson
      mix engineer
    • Paul Einger
      mixing assistant
    • Bill Dirks
      editing
    • Flip Kirby
      drums
    • Porsche Griffin
      background vocals
  • - Cruel Reprise 0:18
  • Total length: 47:08
Previous
Next
Previous in discography: King of Stage
King of Stage
Dance!...Ya Know It!
Next in discography: King of Stage

Rate/Catalog

Saving...
0.0
Catalog
In collection
On wishlist
Used to own
(not cataloged)
Set listening
Tags
Save
Review
Track ratings
To rate, slide your finger across the stars from left to right.
Issues

7 Issues

Expand all 7 issues

7 Issues

Expand all 7 issues
Credits

Credits

  • Bobby Brown
    producerB5, co-producer, background vocalsA1, A3, A4, B1, rapA1
  • Louil Silas Jr.
    executive producer, remixB4
  • Tommy Brown
    finger snapsB3, production coordinator
  • Steve Hall
    mastering engineer
  • George L. Smith
    management
  • JA
    art direction
  • Julie Moss
    design
  • Todd Gray
    photography
  • Expand credits [+43]

10 Reviews

Page 1 2 >>
kt24 Mar 09 2009 4.50 stars
Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel" is an ultimate New Jack Swing album, one of those which defined the new trend in R&B and Pop. In 1988 New Jack Swing became new sensation and Bobby Brown was one of the first who made it successful on the charts. "My Perogative" became an anthem and arguably his biggest hit single. But "Don't Be Cruel" has a lot to offer, much more than just #1 single that later would be covered by Britney Spears. The standout tracks are R&B ballads like "Roni" and especially "Rock Wit'cha"-both ultimate slow burners. You can hear trademark Babyface's production in these tracks. It's suprising that none of these songs haven't dated at all and you can listen to them without a fear that somebody will accuse you of listening to the old stuff. In my opinion these early Babyface/La Face songs go hand in hand with everything they did for TLC and countless other artists. "Every Little Step" is very good song, more in Pop tradition but with high quality. The only weak point is "I really Love You" which is not that great. It's sad that after this album Brown went on to become press' bad boy. Sad, bacause he got a talent.
Published
ADVERTISEMENT
 Drifterdk Feb 26 2007 3.50 stars
This of course contains "My Perogative", which may very well be his finest song. And it is a certified classic as well. Even Britney Spears couldn't wreck it.
Published
ur_mum_xd Jul 24 2022 4.00 stars
Reviewing the All Time Billboard 200 - #82
I wasn't around in the late 80s, but there had to a be a feeling in the air. For most of the decade, hip hop had been on the periphery of the mainstream, never quite reaching a full-on breakthrough. With the few artists who had brought rap to the mainstream - Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, Debbie Harry rapping on "Rapture" - they did so by mixing it with well-established rock sounds. Labels execs weren't sure whether to treat it as a fad or a joke. However, there had to be some moment where people realized that hip hop was about to become huge. It's hard to pinpoint when exactly that was, but I might point to the release of Don't Be Cruel. Now, Bobby Brown was a singer by trade, not a rapper, but he carried himself like one, occasionally rapped on record, and his production choices were clearly influenced by hip hop. If a former member of a kiddie-pop boy band could go for that sound and make it both convincing and commercially successful, that meant something for the future of hip hop (and R&B) in the mainstream. And, thankfully, Don't Be Cruel goes hard.

If you want a prime example of how Don't Be Cruel both goes hard and is hip hop-influenced, look no further than "My Prerogative." The main thesis of "My Prerogative" is "fuck the haters" - an evergreen topic - and very few songs go to such lengths to further this message than "My Prerogative. " The production, courtesy of new jack swing pioneer Teddy Riley, is just relentless. The drum machines slam, the sax bursts off the speakers, the synth bass riff moves like the gears of war. Brown himself just bursts with energy, no one's ever sounded this passionate about hating haters.

There are a few other songs here that bring the same kind of propulsion as "My Prerogative," like the title track and "Every Little Step," but there's also a smoother, more melodic feel to those. This is probably where I should mention that Don't Be Cruel is the first big production job for Babyface and L.A. Reid, who would cofound LaFace records the following year and were behind much of the smooth, sensual R&B hits of the 90s. You don't get to that point without being good at your job, and Don't Be Cruel has the duo at their peak power. A track like "Don't Be Cruel" has the hallmarks of new jack swing, like hard-hitting percussion, dense, synthy production, a rap verse, but the Babyface touches like orchestral synth pads or the rich melody on the prechorus make it stand out. I especially love the ghostly harmonies at the end of that one, they make an already great song truly something special. Much of the album is in bedroom-jam territory, and that's where Babyface and L.A. Reid are at home. There's ethereal synths, soft harmonies and big histrionics with just the right amount of 808 action to keep things from drifting off into pure balladry - it's like Jodeci before Jodeci. There's even room for Brown to rap in some of them. On "Roni," for instance, Brown raps that a Roni can make even the toughest homeboy fall deep in love. Not all of these songs work for me, though. "Rock Wit'Cha" never quite locks in, and "Take It Slow" goes a bit too far into Kenny G territory. Still, Don't Be Cruel stands out as a great album and a great indicator of where R&B was heading.

For a while, it seemed that the direction R&B was headed looked a lot like New Edition. Don't Be Cruel became the highest selling album of 1989 and launched five singles into the top 10, and hits for former New Edition members like Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill, and Bell Biv Devoe followed. Michael Bivens discovered Boyz II Men, who would then become one of the biggest groups of the 90s. The slow jams that Brown brought on this album influenced a lot of 90s R&B, and New Edition's boy-band blueprint was echoed in the TRL boom at the end of the decade. However, 90s pop music would not have much of Brown himself. His 1993 followup Bobby went 2x platinum, less than a third of Don't Be Cruel, and New Edition's 1996 reunion ended with disastrous fights. Instead, Brown arguably became more famous for his marriage to Whitney Houston, which was plagued by domestic abuse and drug addiction. When Houston died from heart disease and cocaine addiction in 2012, much of the public blame fell on Brown. So, time has exposed Bobby Brown as being a pretty bad person, but at least for these 47 minutes, he had something special.
Published
ADVERTISEMENT
 CrabbyLoafers Jul 10 2022 ▼ 3.00 stars
  •   A1 Cruel Prelude / Don't Be Cruel
  • 4.00 stars A2 My Prerogative
  •   A3 Roni
  •   A4 Rock Wit'cha
  • 3.50 stars B1 Every Little Step
  •   B2 I'll Be Good to You
  •   B3 Take It Slow
  •   B4 All Day All Night
  •   B5 I Really Love You Girl / Cruel Reprise
Decided to give this album another take. Eh. It still really didn’t do anything for me. The upbeat stuff and singles are great. Everything else just came out as whatever to me though. (07/25/2022)
Published
Lucasvitoriano May 05 2017 ▼ 4.50 stars
  • 4.50 stars A1 Cruel Prelude / Don't Be Cruel
  • 5.00 stars A2 My Prerogative
  • 5.00 stars A3 Roni
  • 5.00 stars A4 Rock Wit'cha
  • 5.00 stars B1 Every Little Step
  • 4.00 stars B2 I'll Be Good to You
  • 4.00 stars B3 Take It Slow
  • 4.00 stars B4 All Day All Night
  • 4.00 stars B5 I Really Love You Girl / Cruel Reprise
For yuppies, now failed in a career in the real estate or stock market. Little by little, lamborghinis, sassicaia bottles, custom kitchens, cerruti suit, rolex, tennis matches and gala soirées pale in winning over the most beautiful girl in the new-yorkian suburbia.
Published
Moonbeam Sep 17 2016 ▼ 3.00 stars
  • 4.00 stars A1 Cruel Prelude / Don't Be Cruel
  • 5.00 stars A2 My Prerogative
  • 3.50 stars A3 Roni
  • 4.50 stars A4 Rock Wit'cha
  • 2.00 stars B1 Every Little Step
  • 3.00 stars B2 I'll Be Good to You
  • 1.50 stars B3 Take It Slow
  • 2.50 stars B4 All Day All Night
  • 2.50 stars B5 I Really Love You Girl / Cruel Reprise
Don't Be Cruel established Bobby Brown as a star in his own right, and helped him to shed the teen heartthrob role he had with New Edition. Backed by the production of Teddy Riley and Babyface, this album spawned 5 huge hit singles that were everywhere in 1988 and 1989 and would change the sound of contemporary R&B by ushering in the era of new jack swing.

These megasingles are all packed at the front of the album, starting off with the wicked 1-2 punch of "Don't Be Cruel" and "My Prerogative", a song with a killer synth hook that stands as maybe the pinnacle of new jack swing. Two effective ballads follow, in the form of the rather sweet "Roni", the song which recalls his heartthrob days, and the delicious "Rock Wit'cha", a song that hasn't lost any potency over the decades. Closing the run of singles is the upbeat "Every Little Step", a song that struck me as corny at the time as a 9-year old, but is nonetheless the catchiest on the album. Most who owned this album probably pushed stop on the cassette at this point, and they really aren't missing out on much: only "I'll Be Good to You" is decent, at which point the album drags out its runtime with 3 ballads, the first of which isn't far enough removed from the insufferable balladry of Color Me Badd and All-4-One that it surely influenced.

Still, this album is a milestone of late 80s RnB music, and with the singles holding up to the test of time, it's easy to see why. Bobby never came close to this level of cultural cache again, so it documents the peak of his powers.
Published
SolidRaiden22 Jul 03 2013 ▼ 4.00 stars
  • 4.00 stars A1 Cruel Prelude / Don't Be Cruel
  • 4.00 stars A2 My Prerogative
  • 4.00 stars A3 Roni
  • 4.00 stars A4 Rock Wit'cha
  • 4.00 stars B1 Every Little Step
  • 4.00 stars B2 I'll Be Good to You
  • 3.00 stars B3 Take It Slow
  • 4.00 stars B4 All Day All Night
  • 4.00 stars B5 I Really Love You Girl / Cruel Reprise
One of the crowning achievements of the New Jack Swing genre; luminous, smooth, seductive, and oh-so-sweet to the ears, from the timeless and heartfelt self-titled track to the upbeat sensation of "Every Little Step" to the sensual "All Day All Night". All the hits sound just as good today as they did back then, and unlike other albums of its type, the non-hits are great in their own right. Regardless of what you may feel about Bobby Brown as a person these days, there's no denying that the man could definitely sing, and sing well. Shame he never captured the magic of this album again, as it's practically perfect aside from the bland "Take It Slow", which is appropriately titled since it grinds the album to a halt. "Don't Be Cruel" is the type of album that transports me back to the 80's for a brief time and makes me wish I could stay forever.
Published
JetsLuvver Sep 18 2005 4.00 stars
I salvaged this one out of a pile of my sister's old CD's. This guy may be a laughingstock now, but he obviously had some talent back in the day. He recorded that song on Ghostbusters and that would be the last we'd hear from him musically.
Published
Page 1 2 >>
Votes are used to help determine the most interesting content on RYM.

Vote up content that is on-topic, within the rules/guidelines, and will likely stay relevant long-term.
Vote down content which breaks the rules.

Catalog

Ratings: 651
Cataloged: 411
Track rating sets:Track ratings: 81
Rating distribution
Rating trend
Page 1 2 .. 4 .. 8 .. 13 .. 17 .. 22 .. 26 .. 30 .. 35 .. 39 .. 44 >>
3 Jun 2024
underrated  3.00 stars Thank you Kanye, very cool
25 May 2024
nmnk306  2.00 stars
15 May 2024
yungphotosynthesis  5.00 stars GAWD
9 May 2024
Ol1Farth1ng  4.00 stars
7 May 2024
oldness95  3.50 stars
7 May 2024
thelifeofadrop_out18  3.50 stars 10k
29 Apr 2024
divingboard  ▼3.50 stars
  • 4.00 stars A1 - Cruel Prelude
  • 3.50 stars A2 My Prerogative
  • 3.50 stars A3 Roni
  • 3.00 stars A4 Rock Wit'cha
  • 3.50 stars B1 Every Little Step
  • 3.00 stars B2 I'll Be Good to You
  • 3.00 stars B3 Take It Slow
  • 3.00 stars B4 All Day All Night
  • 3.50 stars B5 - I Really Love You Girl
28 Apr 2024
CaptainSinbad  1.50 stars
27 Apr 2024
coffeehatred  3.50 stars pretty in pink
26 Apr 2024
Hedgewolf  4.00 stars Raawwr. :D
20 Apr 2024
myperfume  4.50 stars
19 Apr 2024
kou2  4.50 stars
14 Apr 2024
oculism  5.00 stars
11 Apr 2024
blackcelebrationfan101  4.00 stars
7 Apr 2024
constructive  2.50 stars
Cover art for Don't Be Cruel by Bobby Brown
....
Previous
Next
Previous in discography: King of Stage
King of Stage
Dance!...Ya Know It!
Next in discography: King of Stage
ADVERTISEMENT

Track listing

  • A1 - Cruel Prelude 0:39
    • L.A. Reid
      producer, mixing, all instruments, rap
    • Babyface
      producer, mixing, all instruments, background vocals
    • Bobby Brown
      background vocals, rap
    • Jon Gass
      recording engineer, mix engineer, editing
    • John Guggenheim
      assistant recording engineer
    • Don Emerson
      assistant recording engineer
    • Toni Greene
      mixing assistant
    • Fred Howard
      mixing assistant
    • Kayo
      background vocals
    • Daryl Simmons
      background vocals, rap
    • Karyn White
      background vocals
  • - Don't Be Cruel 6:52
  • A2 My Prerogative 4:57
  • A3 Roni 5:58
    • L.A. Reid
      producer, mixing, all instruments
    • Babyface
      producer, mixing, all instruments, background vocals
    • Bobby Brown
      background vocals
    • Jon Gass
      recording engineer, mix engineer, editing
    • John Guggenheim
      assistant recording engineer
    • Don Emerson
      assistant recording engineer
    • Toni Greene
      mixing assistant
    • Fred Howard
      mixing assistant
    • Kayo
      background vocals
    • Daryl Simmons
      background vocals
    • Karyn White
      background vocals
  • A4 Rock Wit'cha 4:47
    • L.A. Reid
      producer, mixing, all instruments
    • Babyface
      producer, mixing, all instruments, background vocals
    • Bobby Brown
      background vocals
    • Jon Gass
      recording engineer, mix engineer, editing
    • John Guggenheim
      assistant recording engineer
    • Don Emerson
      assistant recording engineer
    • Toni Greene
      mixing assistant
    • Fred Howard
      mixing assistant
  • B1 Every Little Step 3:59
    • L.A. Reid
      producer, mixing, all instruments
    • Babyface
      producer, mixing, all instruments, background vocals
    • Bobby Brown
      background vocals
    • Jon Gass
      recording engineer, mix engineer, editing
    • John Guggenheim
      assistant recording engineer
    • Don Emerson
      assistant recording engineer
    • Toni Greene
      mixing assistant
    • Fred Howard
      mixing assistant
    • Kayo
      background vocals
    • Daryl Simmons
      background vocals
    • Karyn White
      background vocals
  • B2 I'll Be Good to You 4:25
  • B3 Take It Slow 5:22
    • Larry White
      producer, mixing, assistant engineer, drums, guitar, background vocals, additional overdubs, bass
    • Michael Denten
      recording engineer, mixing, drum tech
    • Howard Johnston
      recording engineer
    • K2
      assistant engineer
    • Mark Slagle
      assistant engineer
    • Kirk Crumpler
      bass, bass synthesizer
    • Emilio Conesa
      guitar
    • Percy Scott
      keyboards
    • Ben Rayes
      keyboards
    • Dewayne Sweet
      keyboards
    • Richard Aguon
      background vocals, drums
    • Ollie Bolds
      background vocals
    • Lee Peters
      background vocals
    • Ronnie Watkins
      background vocals
    • Melecio Magdaluyo
      soprano saxophone
    • Tommy Brown
      finger snaps
    • Mel Jay
      finger snaps
    • Ervilinda Nasaira Hill
      finger snaps
    • Ruben Laxamana
      special effects
  • B4 All Day All Night 4:40
    • Larry White
      producer, mixing, assistant engineer, keyboards
    • Louil Silas Jr.
      remix
    • Michael Denten
      recording engineer, mixing, background vocals
    • Howard Johnston
      recording engineer
    • K2
      assistant engineer
    • Mark Slagle
      assistant engineer
    • Percy Scott
      keyboards
    • Ben Rayes
      keyboards
    • Dewayne Sweet
      keyboards, drums, bass synthesizer
    • Richard Aguon
      background vocals, drums
    • Ollie Bolds
      background vocals
    • Lee Peters
      background vocals
    • Ervilinda Nasaira Hill
      voice
  • B5 - I Really Love You Girl 5:11
    • Gordon Jones
      producer, mixing, various instruments, background vocals
    • Bobby Brown
      producer
    • Phil Waters
      recording engineer
    • Mitch Gibson
      mix engineer
    • Paul Einger
      mixing assistant
    • Bill Dirks
      editing
    • Flip Kirby
      drums
    • Porsche Griffin
      background vocals
  • - Cruel Reprise 0:18
  • Total length: 47:08

Credits

  • Bobby Brown
    producerB5, co-producer, background vocalsA1, A3, A4, B1, rapA1
  • Louil Silas Jr.
    executive producer, remixB4
  • Tommy Brown
    finger snapsB3, production coordinator
  • Steve Hall
    mastering engineer
  • George L. Smith
    management
  • JA
    art direction
  • Julie Moss
    design
  • Todd Gray
    photography
  • Expand credits [+43]

131 Lists

ADVERTISEMENT

Contributions

Contributors to this release: CurtisLoew, regal1382, Alenko, Kerkopes, Torc, ulio, lionel26, coolidge, SadAntenna
Log in to submit a correction or upload art for this release
....